Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh, and the University of Washington have mapped how 3D genome architecture differs in brain cells affected by Alzheimer’s disease. According to a study published in Science, the research team linked genome folding to gene activity and brain tissue organization using single-cell technology, spatial mapping, and a … Read more
Rapidly developing antibiotic resistance during severe lung infections can occur when patients acquire circular pieces of DNA called plasmids from transient environmental bacteria, according to researchers at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Publishing their findings in Nature Microbiology, the team reported that this gene transfer can cause pathogen resistance to jump more than … Read more
Researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of USC have identified a 3D hierarchy of DNA “enhancers” that function as master switches for prostate cancer development. According to a study published in Genome Biology, these interconnected networks control gene expression, revealing potential new targets for precision cancer therapies that could move beyond current gene-specific treatments. … Read more
Genetic Insights into GLP-1R and Mental Health Genetic evidence suggests that lifelong activation of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) may reduce risks of major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD), according to a study published in Translational Psychiatry. Researchers used Mendelian randomization (MR) to analyze data from genome-wide association studies (GWASs), linking genetic variants … Read more
Bioengineers at the University of California San Diego have created the first genome-scale reference map detailing how individual genes influence the behavior and identity of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Published in Nature Biotechnology, the study utilized CRISPR technology to systematically switch off 11,692 genes, providing a reference atlas for researchers to predict how … Read more
Biologists at the University of Minnesota have successfully engineered a synthetic cell, dubbed “SpudCell,” capable of performing core biological life cycles including nutrient intake, growth, DNA replication, and division. According to a preprint posted July 2 on bioRxiv, the cell is constructed entirely from non-living chemical components and functions with a 90,000-base-pair genome, significantly smaller … Read more
Researchers have recovered genetic data from 27 Neanderthals in Belgium and France, revealing that these late populations maintained regional connectivity rather than living in isolated, inbred groups. According to a study published in Nature by Alba Bossoms Mesa and colleagues at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, these findings challenge the theory that genetic … Read more
Early-life adversity leaves a permanent, system-wide biological signature that alters how the body ages, according to a study published in the journal Science. Researchers tracking rhesus macaques found that childhood hardships—such as maternal loss or social instability—reshaped the epigenome across multiple tissues in a coordinated, yet non-uniform, manner that challenges the theory that adversity simply … Read more
Ancestors of Near Oceanian populations interbred with at least three distinct groups of Denisovans, according to a study published in the journal Science. By sequencing 177 high-coverage genomes from 12 distinct communities, researchers found that these populations carry up to 25 times more Denisovan genetic material than the average East Asian genome, providing a new … Read more
Researchers found that fatigue in healthy adults is linked to specific shifts in gut bacteria and fecal metabolites. According to a study in Scientific Reports, these microbial patterns overlap significantly with those found in ME/CFS and psychiatric disorders, suggesting gut dysbiosis may serve as an early indicator for these conditions. What microbial changes are linked … Read more